AUT alumna recognised by Forbes
Tech industry extraordinaire and AUT alumna, Nu’uali’i Eteroa Tusipepa Lafaele, (Samoa), has been named in the prestigious Forbes 30 Under 30 – Asia – Social Impact 2023.
The University’s talented Computer and Information Sciences graduate was selected for the Forbes List from more than 4,000 candidates who are evaluated by the Forbes Asia team and a panel of independent, expert judges.
Awarded to honorees under the age of 30, the annual list highlights a total of 300 outstanding young entrepreneurs and trailblazers in 10 different categories who are innovating and thriving across industries in the Asia-Pacific Region, one of which is social impact.
Commenting on her immense achievement, Nu’uali’i says "I feel very blessed to be recognised by Forbes for this honour. It really is a reflection of my village and how they have been there for me since day one! This is for our people so that they too can see themselves in this field.
“This achievement is also a great opportunity to really raise the Digital Equity we have here in Aotearoa and I hope my work shines light on the work we are trying to achieve.”
AUT’s Pro Vice-Chancellor Pacific, Dr Jacoba Matapo, says Nu’uali’i’s achievement is testament to the outstanding calibre and impact of the work she is doing to support Pacific people in tech.
“To be named on the 2023 Forbes List is such well-deserved international recognition of the vast contribution Nu’uali’i is making to the Pacific communities she serves. We celebrate her success in this outstanding achievement,” she says.
After working as a Developer Evangelist at Xero, Nu’uali’i is now the Director and Co-Founder of Fibre Fale which supports Pacific Islanders seeking to break into the tech industry.
The organisation aims to achieve equal representation for Pacific Islanders in New Zealand's tech scene by 2042.
An integral part of Fibre Fale is a free, digital village ‘Cybernesia’, for Pacific people in tech to come together, draw knowledge and to feel connected as a community in the digital space.
During Covid lockdowns, the remarkable Pacific role model also started DigiTautua which refurbishes and provides laptops to New Zealand's Pacific Islander youth who can't afford the devices.
Nu’uali’i’s passion for educating communities about technology has already seen her recognised with a Young IT Professional of the Year Award 2021, a Prime Minister’s Pacific Award for STEM and a nomination for the 2019 Young Women of Influence Awards.